North Korean leader Kim Jong Il dead at age 69

Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic longtime leader, has died of heart failure. He was 69. In a "special broadcast" Monday from the North Korean capital, state media said Kim died of a heart ailment on a train due to a "great mental and physical strain" on Dec. 17 during a "high intensity field inspection." It said an autopsy was done on Dec. 18 and "fully confirmed" the diagnosis.

FILE - In this April 25, 2002 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, right, applauds with Kim Yong Nam, president of the People's Congress from the balcony of a building during a military parade, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korean People's Army in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korean television announced Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 in a "special broadcast" that its leader Kim Jong Il has died in Pyongyang.

AP Photo

In this Oct. 10, 2010 file photo Kim Jong Un, right, along with his father and North Korea leader Kim Jong Il, left, attends during a massive military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korean television announced Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 in a "special broadcast" that its leader Kim Jong Il has died in Pyongyang.

Kyodo News

South Korean soldiers buy train tickets while people watch a TV news reporting about the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il at the Seoul train station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011.

AP Photo

A man looks at the pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il on display outside the North Korean embassy in Beijing, China, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic longtime leader, has died of heart failure. He was 69.

AP Photo

Passengers watch a TV news reporting about the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il at the Seoul train station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011.

AP Photo

In this Oct. 23, 2000 file photo, North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il, right, and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, left, walk towards a conference room at the Pae Kha Hawon Guest House in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korean television announced Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 in a "special broadcast" that its leader Kim Jong Il has died in Pyongyang.

AP Photo

In this Oct. 10, 2010 photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il applauds following a massive military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the communist nation's ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim Jong Il, North Korea's mercurial and enigmatic leader whose iron rule and nuclear ambitions dominated world security fears for more than a decade, has died. He was 69.

AP Photo

In this Oct. 23, 2000 file photo, North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il, left, shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the Pae Kha Hawon Guest House in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korean television announced Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 in a "special broadcast" that its leader Kim Jong Il has died in Pyongyang.

AP Photo

In this Aug. 24, 2011 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, left, listens to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, right, during a meeting an a military garrison, outside Ulan-Ude. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in remote eastern Siberia for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il expected to focus on energy deals, economic aid and nuclear disarmament.